Pipe-wrench



L. WILLIAMS.

PIPE WRENCH.

Patented Nov. 2,1897.

(N0 Modem \Vitnesses. Inventor.

E H t I Attorney.

UNITED STATES ATENT tries...

LAIVRENCE IVILLIAMS, OF COLUMBUS CITY, IOWA.

PIPE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,149, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed July 19, 1897. Serial No. 645,139. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

lie it known that I, LAWRENCE WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Columbus City, in the county of Louisa and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Wrenches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of a wrench embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section and partly broken away; and Fig. 3 is a side view showing a modification.

This invention is designed to provide a selfadjustable pipe-wrench or a wrench which will adjust itself to different sizes of pipes or other objects to which it may be applied without the manipulation of any adjusting device whatever.

It is also designed to provide a wrench of this character of such construction as to provide for a secure and effective grip upon the pipe or other object and in such a manner as to avoid injury thereto.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combi nation of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a bar of east-steel or other suitable material which is shaped at one end portion to form a handle and at the other end portion to form a curved head A. This head is formed with an oblong slot or mortise C= therethrough and is also slotted or bifurcated at B at its end to receive the heel portion of a movable jaw D, which is pivoted therein by means of a pin or rivet c. This jaw consists of the heel portion referred to and of a body portion which extends loosely through the slot or mortise C and is shaped much like the bill of a hawk or eagle, having a pronounced downward curve at its end portion. The inner curved face (1 of this portion of the jaw is provided with transverse teeth or serrations d and forms an acute angle with the inner face of the heel portion. The inner curved face of the head portion A between the upper wall of the slot 0, in which said jaw is pivoted, may or may not be pro vided (both forms being shown) with transverse teeth h, which are somewhat of the form of saw-teeth. If these teeth are to be used, they are preferably formed upon a separate plate H, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the head.

K is a spring which is coiled around the pin or pivot 0, within a slot 76 of the heel portion of the movable jaw D, one of its ends having a bearing in said jaw and the other end in the head, its tension being such that, aided by the natural gravity of the jaw, the latter will normally be projected as far as possible through the slot or mortise B.

The pipe or other object to be gripped is introduced into the triangular-shaped opening formed by the angle of the jawD and the adjacent face of the head A, the spring K causing the said jawto adapt itself to the particular diameter of the pipe or other object.

It will be readily seen that the grip which is obtained is of very powerful Ol1Ll'].-(3tG-1,llll6 at the same time the bearing which is had upon the pipe is extended over so large a surface as to greatly reduce the liability of denting or injuring it. It will also be seen that the wrench will operate effectively upon objects of widely-differing diameters and that it can be used upon objects of small diameter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described pipe-wrench, comprising a bar having a curved head portion formed with a slot or mortise thercthrough, and a jaw having its heel portion pivoted in the end of said head and formed with a reversely-curved portion which projects backwardly through the said slot or mortise and whose inner curved surface forms an acute angle with the inner face of the heel portion and is provided with teeth or serrations, said curved surface and inner face forming two sides of a closed triangular opening or seat the third side of which is formed by the adjacent face of the said head portion substantially as specified.

2. The herein-described pipe-wrench, comprising a bar having a curved head portion at one end formed with a slot or mortise therethrough, and a curved jaw pivoted in the end portion of said head, and consisting of a heel portion and a reversely-curved body portion which projects back through the said slot or mortise, and Whose inner curved face forms an acute angle with the inner face of said heel portion and is provided with transverse teeth or serrations, said curved surface and inner face forming two sides of a closed triangular opening or seat the third side of which is formed by the adjacent face of the said head portion, together with a spring coiled around the pivot of said jaw and having a :3 hearing at one end portion in the jaw and at its opposite end portion a bearing in the head, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAlVRENOE \VILLTAMS. Witnesses:

R. S. JOHNSTON, F. CoLToN. 

